Five Tips For Choosing Great Toys

Solving The Toy Shopping Puzzle

Five Tips For Choosing Great Toys

It’s that time of year again! The time of year children look forward to all year long. ..TOYS! GIFTS! SHOPPING!

As parents we want to make good decisions on how we spend our money and the value we receive in return, especially when it comes to toys. A new toy can become “old” very quickly as the toy is no longer interesting or the kids have mastered or outgrown it.

Play is super important in children’s development. But a trip to the local toy store or an online shopping visit, especially over the holidays, can be quite overwhelming for us parents. There are thousands of toys available, and each year more are added. How do you know what to look for? Which toy will be right for your child? Will you get good value for your dollars? What should you expect from the toy? Will your child be just as enthralled with the box the toy came in, the TV remote control or the pots and pans in the kitchen?

Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind as you boldly and confidently “solve the puzzle” of finding the perfect toy this holiday season and always.

1. Determine the age-appropriateness of the toy
Every age and every stage of development requires different challenges and support. Evaluate the “fit” for your child in terms of age, maturity, developmental level and where their interests lie. It is usually suggested to get toys a little ahead of where your child is currently, so they have a toy to “grow into”.

2. Evaluate the educational component/value
I think this is the most important consideration, apart from safety. What is the toy teaching? Look for toys that teach more than one thing and can be used in several different ways. This is referred to as “open-end” toys. For example, building blocks can teach ABCs, colours and spatial relations and are also used to build unlimited structures. Similarly, construction sets also support this open-end play concept of allowing unlimited creations and activities.

3. Can the toy grow with your child?
You want toys that have utility across several different age ranges. My one year old uses blocks which help with his grasp. They are colourful and visually exciting, and my eight year old is building forts with the same blocks! I think that’s good value for money.

4. Look for problem solving opportunities
This is why I love, love, love puzzles! The best way for children to learn is with puzzles, and they are fun. Puzzles help to develop the all-important logical and abstract “out-of-box” thinking. Puzzles, sorters and stackers are great options.

5. Encourage imagination
Creative play is another important consideration. By about three years old, storytelling, dress up and make believe are a big part of playtime. These activities help formulate their ideas and build literacy skills.

In a nutshell, you want toys that support and augment the learning process with high fun factor.

What other tips do you have for selecting great toys?

Renee is Mom to Jordan and Braelan. She is the owner of Kid N Play JA, an online resource for parents with fun, attractions and activities in Jamaica. Renee has just launched a new on-line toy store, Kid N Play JA Toy Box specializing in fun educational and engaging toys.